Combination shower bath spray, bath sponge, and massage device



Jan. 12, 1932. P. s. HARDY 1,840,812

COMBINATION SHOWER BATH SPRAY, BATH SPONGE, AND mssmn mgvxcn Filed Feb. 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor 1%727? J/Z eok A ttomey P. s. HARDY 1,840,812

COMBINATION SHOWER BATH SPRAY, BATH SPONGE, AND MASSAGE DEVICE Jan. 12, 1932.

Filed Feb. 28, 1950 3 SheetsSheet 2 Inventor fifE/iJ-JYQADK A ftomeu COMBINATION SHOWER BATH SPRAY, BATH SPONGE, AND'MASSAGE DEVICE Filed Feb. 28, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dent n P TE/F35: 15,2; E D K A iiorn Patented Jan. 12, 1932 Unite sTA-ras WEI-m1 rerun s. HARDY? or 'nnwironx, N.

"COMBINATJVIOIST snowim Barn srnAY, earn s one's, as Massacre savior.

Application filed February'f28, 1930. Serial No. 432,130.

This invention relates to a. combination shower bath spray, bath sponge and massage device. a Y

The primary object of the invention reasides in a combi-nation bath appliance for attachment to the faucet of a water-supply systern for producing a shower spray,'and to which attachment may be connected to adapt the appliance as a rubbing sponge, or a waieter driven inassagedevice. The device is esrno'un'ted within a showerhead, there being peeiillly intended to permit-a user to stimulate the tissues oi? the body by a massaging action which tends to open the-pores of the skin to allow thorough cleansing of the same not otherwise possible by the usual bathing method,

Another object of the invention is to provide a bath appliance in which the'rotor is valve means selectively operable to direct the flow of water so as to impart rotation to the rotor for actuating the same when the massage attachment is to be used, and for al lowing the water to flowthrough theolItleti opening in they shower head when desired,

and means for facilitating the return iiow of water from the shower head to a suitable outlet when :the vaive means are set to actuate the rotor.

Another object of vision ofa combination bath appliance which is simple oiiconstruction, inexpensive-f manufacture and simple of operation.

With these and other objects 1n viewthe invention resides in the certain novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, the essential features of which are hereinafter fully described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 1s an elevational view showing my improved bath appliance connectedto a faucet and illustrating the sponge attachment in use.

Figure 2 is a side elevational VlQW of thehead end of the device.

- 50 Figure 3 is a top plan view of the same. a

- ew on the linens-5 of Figur 13.

adapted for use'in the bath and is la-of a shower head lfi;

the invention is the proa, igure e is a horizontal secti nal i won h elin fo Figure 5,.

figure .5. i an enla g ve i al sec ional.

Figure 16 is a iz ntal sectiona view on the line 51 6 of Figure 5.1 a V Figu 7 is a ta l side e va iona View f he mass g lem n s per se,

R e ring t the drawing by r erence characters the numeral 10 designates an,

l ngated u ular handle m m e t rough hio a nine 11 extends, t e opp site endsoi h n n x ding bey d the endsof the tubular handle member tor a purpose to be l Q ibe-dh ou er ext-end ng endofthe pipell is screw threaded for threadedly receiViHg one .end oi? an elbew {fittingl 2 the la-posit end o th fi i g; i g provided th ut a d y te d ng ars of flanges .13 o s ating engag m nt again t th eas ng Fastening elements in the nature of screws 1.6 pass through the ears or flanges 13 andintovthe casing-for connecting the said casing to the1e1bow 12.

The opposite extending-end of the pipe'll re ves on e of a ou r flexible hose or, tube 17 theother end of the hose l7 fitting;

over a nipple 1'8 providedona ta-ucetattafchment or coupling member- 19. 1 The coupling member 119 LCQIHQDI lS GS a right angularily shaped oa ingi2 h ving, a ubber, nipple or collar 21 secured therein at its attachment end for fitting upon the -spou't of a faucet, while depending from the horizontal {leg of the fittingis an outlet-nipple 22. Seated within the horizontal leg of the casing is a; tube coupling member 23 provided with a reduced nipple "2e and which coupling-member; is removably associated with the casing and hel din position therein by aset screw :25.

Fitting onto the nipple 24 oi the coupling.-

I member .23 isone end-oi an inner. flexible;

. tube; The opposite end ofv the inner tube 25 isconneoted to th inl t pa age 27 Pros id d i h w head-eas ng 1 4:5 Wh lethe.

space provided between the -innerjtubing ane the outer tube has communication with an outlet fork or passage 28 also provided in the casing 14. From the description thus far, it will be seen that one end of the inner tube 26 is in communication with the inlet of the attachment fitting 19 and its opposite end connected to the inlet of the casing 14, while the space between the inner and outer tube constitutes a return passage which communicates with the outlet nipple 22 and the outlet passage 28 hereinbefore mentioned.

Fixed within the casing 14 axially thereof is a tubular shaft29 and rotatably mounted upon the shaft is a rotor element 30 which is of stepped formation in cross section as shown in Figure 5, the top of which is provided with radially extending vanes or wings 31 disposed within a circular chamber 32 with which the inlet passage 27 and the outlet passage 28 communicates. The inlet passage 27 enters the side wall of the chamber, while the outlet passage 28 enters the top of the said chamber. A retaining nut 33 is threaded to the free end of the tubular shaft 29 for maintaining the rotor member 30 in engagement with the bearing surfaces provided on the inside of the casing 14. Suitable rubber packing 34 is provided between the rotor and the bearing surfaces of the casing for preventing any leakage of water through the several joints. The rotor is hollow of construction and includes a concavo convex plate 35 having openings or perforations 36 therein through which water is adapted to pass when the device is to be used as a shower bath spray. The interior of the plate 35 centrally thereof is curved inwardly to provide a conical enlargement or boss in which a threaded socket 38 is provided. The socket onening onto the outer surface of the plate. The apex of the conical enlargement is disposed in axial alinement with the tubular shaft 29 so that water passing down through the tubular shaft will strike the'curved wall and be deflected outwardly in all directions to pass through the holes or perforations 36 in the plate 35 when the device is used for a shower. The peripheral edge of the plate 35 constitutes a flange 37 for facilitating the attachment of a rubber sponge element 38, the said element being substantially cup shaped and provided with an inturned flange 39 for engagement with the flange 37 of the rotor.

The sponge attachment 38 being constructed of a porous material, permits water to pass therethrough and which serves as a rubbing element during thorough washing or cleansing of the body. The rubber sponge being of a distendable material, the same may be stretched to enable the flange 39 to engage the flange 37 when applying the sponge attachment to the shower head, or to allow the walls of the sponge element to be expanded for the removal of the said element. The inlet passage 27 is provided with a conical valve seat 40 with which a valve 41 coacts for opening and shutting off the supply of water from the inlet tube 26 to the chamber 32 and which valve 41 is carried on the inner end of a threaded valve stem 42 turnably mounted in a gland 43.

Leading from the inlet 27 is a passage or by-pass 44 provided in the casing 14 and which leads toward the axial center of the casing for communication with the tubular shaft 29. The inner end of the by-pass 44 terminates in a valve seat 45 with which a valve 46 coacts, the latter being carried at the inner end of a threaded valve stem 47, threaded in a packing gland 48. In the several figures of the drawings the valve 41 is shown in an open position topermit the flow of water from the tube 26 to the chamber 32 and thence out through the outlet 28 to the discharge passage between the outer and inner tubes 17 and 26, then to the outlet nipple 22. When the valve 41 is in an open position, the valve 46 is closed so that the water from the source of supply or faucet is directed to the chamber 32 and the force of the same causes rotation of the rotor 30 and at which time the massage element 48 shown in detail in Figure 7 and in dotted lines in Figure 5 is in attached position as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5. The massage element 48 is provided with a threaded stud 49 for threading in the threaded socket or recess 38 in the plate 35. It is of course understood that the sponge element 38 shown in Figure 5 is removed before the attachment of the massage element. During the use of the device as a massage apparatus, no water passes to the interior of the rotor, and therefore no spray is produced, as the force of the water is utilized as a power for imparting rotation to the rotor which in turn actuates the massage element 48.

When it is desiredto utilize the apparatus as a bath shower or spray the valve 41 is closed on its seat 40 and the valve 46 opened so that the water flowing through the inner tube 26 passes through the by pass 44, thence through the tubular shaft 29 into the interior of the rotor, from which it passes through the opening 36 and produces a shower spray. It

will therefore be seen that by the manipula tion of the valves 41 and 46 the shower head may be selectively controlled so as to either produce a water shower or a water driven motor for the'actuation of a massage element.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a novel form of bath appliance which may be operatively connected up with the faucet of a bathtub and the device used for either a bath shower, a bath sponge, or a water driven massage device.

If desired, the valve 41 may be moved to an open position while the valve 46 is in a partially open position, sufficient to allow water to pass through the shower head for rinsing purposes during a massage operation. Also the nipple 22 may be connected to one end of a hose leading to a drain other than the bath tub to prevent mixing of cold water used to actuate the rotor, with the hot water of a bath.

WVhile I have shown and described what I deem to be the most desirable embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many of the details may be varied if desired, and I do not limit myself to the exact details herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention limitedonly by the appended claims. 7 7

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a casing having an inlet and outlet, a rotor rotatably mounted in saidcasing, a massage element associated with said rotor, a faucet attachment fitting having an inlet and an outlet, an outer tube connecting the outlet of said casing with the outlet of said fitting, and an inner tube arranged with'insaid outer tube in spaced relation to the walls thereof and having its respective ends a tached to the inlet of said casing, and the inlet of said fitting. 2. In a device of the class described, a casing having an inlet and outlet, a rotor rotatably mounted in said casing, a massage element associated with saidro-tor, a faucet attachment fittinghaving an inlet and an outlet, an outer tube connecting the outlet of 1 said casing with the outlet of said fitting,

' l fitting,

an inner tube arranged within said outer tube in'spaced relation to the walls thereof 40' and having its respective ends attached to the inlet of said casing, and the inlet of said and valve means in the inlet of said casing for regulating the flow o-fvwater there- 3. In a device of the class described, a casing, a hollow shower head rotatablv mounted in said casing having outlet opentor rotatably mounted within said casing and provided with radially arranged vanes disposed within said chamber, a massage ele- ,mentattached to said rotor, a water faucet attachment having an inlet and an outlet,

an outer flexible hose having one end fixed- .to the other end of said handle and its other end to the waterfaucet attachment in communication with the outlet therein, and an inner flexible tube enclosed within said outerfiexible tube .in spaced relationito the interior walls thereof, one end of said inner flexible tube being attached to the inlet of said faucet attachment and the other end to the inlet passage leading to said chamber, the outlet passage to said chamber communicating with the space between said inner and outer tubes.

5. In a device of the class inghaving a water inletand a water outlet, a rotor member rotatably mounted in said casing and having a hollow perforated show-' er head, and valve means for selectively esdescribed,- a cas tablishing communicationbetween said inlet and said hollow headfor the discharge of water through the perforations therein,

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

PETER s. HARDY.

ings therein, radially disposed vanes pro vided on said shower head and arranged in a chamber in said casing, amassage element associated with said-shower head, a water inlet and a water outlet communicating with said chamber, the inlet also having communication with the interior of said hollow shower head, and valve means for selectively directing the inflow of water through vsaid inlet to either said chamber to actuate the rotor or to the interior of said shower head for discharge through said outlet openin Z. A device of the class described comprisinga tubular handle, a casing supported at one end of said handle, awater chamber within said casing having an inlet and anoutlet passage communicating therewith, aro- 

